DOHA, March 20 (Xinhua) — Hamad International Airport in Qatar announced Wednesday that it has opened new concourses D and E that would increase its annual passenger capacity to over 65 million and bolster efforts to become a global aviation hub.
Completed ahead of schedule, the expansion adds 17 new aircraft contact gates, raising the total to 62. The terminal now covers 842,000 square meters, a 14 percent increase.
“This achievement reflects our commitment to operational excellence and supports Qatar’s economic growth under the Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, chief executive officer of the Qatar Airways Group.
The new concourses feature smart self-boarding systems to speed up passenger flow and introduce 2,700 square meters of new retail and dining space.
The expansion is part of a broader development plan that began in 2018 and included the ORCHARD, a 6,000-square-meter indoor tropical garden unveiled in 2022.
Hamad International Airport was named the “World’s Best Airport” by Skytrax in 2024.
